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Nuclear Battery That Runs 10 Years

Jenny writes "A battery with a lifespan measured in decades is in development at the University of Rochester, as scientists demonstrate a new fabrication method that in its roughest form is already 10 times more efficient than current nuclear batteries -- and has the potential to be nearly 200 times more efficient. Similar to the way solar panels work by catching photons from the sun and turning them into current, the science of betavoltaics uses silicon to capture electrons emitted from a radioactive gas, such as tritium, to form a current. As the electrons strike a special pair of layers called a 'p-n junction,' a current results. I can imagine lots of applications for this new battery including my own laptop."

11 of 689 comments (clear)

  1. Great... by Jace+of+Fuse! · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now instead of just overheating... my laptop can have a total meltdown?

    --

    "Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"

    Moderation Totals: Wrong=2, Stupid=3, Total=5.
    1. Re:Great... by Axe · · Score: 5, Funny
      As one my russian friend, who worked in Chernobyl (as a researcher) remembered, that was the favorite rhyme in there, that can be translated.. "If you want to be a father, wrap your balls in lead foil..."

      All I can say: ouch.

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      <^>_<(ô ô)>_<^>
    2. Re:Great... by WormholeFiend · · Score: 5, Funny

      dude, tritium is not like in the Spiderman 2 movie... its radiation cant even penetrate a sheet of paper.

    3. Re:Great... by DrStrange66 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Now the Energizer bunny will be replaced with the Radiation bunny!

      It keeps glowing and glowing...

    4. Re:Great... by xkenny13 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Unlike nucelar reactors which function via nuclear fission, these batteries function by capturing the rays from radioactive materials and converting them into energy.

      Ummmm ... didn't Chekov do this in Star Trek IV!?

    5. Re:Great... by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 5, Funny

      At least it will also kill off the crabs..

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      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    6. Re:Great... by MarkGriz · · Score: 4, Funny

      "...these batteries tend to be inherently safe because they can't explode..."

      Maybe not, but lets keep that Australian kid away from them, just to be safe.

      --
      Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
    7. Re:Great... by Trigun · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think that you'd have to wrap more than just your testicles, otherwise Chernobyl fall off!

  2. betavoltaics? by lawpoop · · Score: 5, Funny

    Betavoltaics? I'll wait until this radioactive battery is more... stable.

    --
    Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
    -- Pablo Picasso
  3. Re:Great...for iPods! by j!mmy+v. · · Score: 4, Funny

    This will be awesome in iPods.

    Until your mother launders it.

    And you take a screwdriver to it.

    And it flips you into orbit.

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    -- often wrong; never in doubt
  4. Re:next time by tomcode · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, you'd keep the battery and buy a new laptop for it every few years.

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